Former 911 dispatcher LoriAnn Fehnel told Lehigh County commissioners and Lehigh County Executive Philips Armstrong Feb. 12, that she was disappointed in their decision to fire three supervisors and force the resignation of seven dispatchers who used rum-laced eggnog to toast the New Year while on duty in the dispatch room.

Fehnel, a 911 dispatcher from 2007 through 2010 for Allentown, said she felt like someone needs to speak up for the dismissed emergency services personnel.

“People would like to speak up, but they fear retribution,” said Fehnel. “These people are tired. You have no idea what it is like to be in that seat. People say, ‘You signed up for it.’ Yes, we did because we want to help the public.

“Do the right thing, Mr. Phillips Armstrong. Reinstate them,” urged Fehnel.

“It was not a justified firing,” Fehnel said in an interview. “Suspension would have been more appropriate.”

She said she doesn’t believe the executive understands how stressful the job is. “They work 12 to 16-hour days. They get tired.”

Later in the meeting, Armstrong introduced his newly-hired public information secretary specialist, Laura Grammes. Armstrong said there were 32 applicants for the job previously held by Joshua Siegel, who was recently elected to Allentown City Council. Laura Grammes is the daughter of Lehigh County Commissioner Marc Grammes.

Commissioner Grammes told the board about a $200,000 grant that will be administered by the Lehigh Valley Homeless Veteran Fund recently established to assist Lehigh Valley homeless veterans.

Grammes referred to the yearly Point-In-Time count in 2019 – an annual one-day effort held each January to identify the homeless throughout a community – identified 38 homeless veterans in the Lehigh Valley. This number has held fairly steady since 2013, when veterans became a subcategory of the Point-In-Time count, according to a statement released by state Senator Pat Browne (16th District).

In other business, commissioners approved a new 20-year lease, with the Lehigh Valley Zoological Society. This $1 per year lease extends the previous lease in which the county provides the Trexler Nature Preserve, where the Lehigh County Zoo operates, and contains a clause for reimbursable expenses for the daily care of the herds of bison, horses and elk that are owned by Lehigh County.

Commissioners also: Approved a lease agreement with Sovereign Executive Offices, Inc. for office and storage space.

Had a first (final vote to approve will be at later meeting) reading for a bill establishing a non-discrimination policy for County of Lehigh contracts and grants. This will codify a policy already in place by executive order.

Executive Phillips Armstrong announced he will present the State of the County address Feb. 27 will be at 4 p.m. at Coca Cola Park.

Armstrong also announced that the recently announced plan for Allegiant Air to move its regional hub to Lehigh Valley International Airport will bring 60 new jobs to the Lehigh Valley.

In other business, commissioners appointed several nominees to fill positions: Tracy Roman – Aging and Adult Services Advisory Council; Norma Cusick – Lehigh County Authority; Sheila Alvarado, Matthew B. Malozi, and Jennifer Ramos – Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority; Jamie Johnson, Joshua Siegel and Amy Zanelli – Leigh Valley Planning Commission.